BY THE NUMBERS: 1-8 – The Panthers’ regular season record against Dallas. Carolina is 2-0 all-time against the Cowboys in the playoffs – both played in Charlotte.

PANTHERS OFFENSIVE GAME PLAN: Cam Newton repeatedly used the terms “take ownership” and “valuing each and every possession” during his weekly Wednesday news conference. He also talked about consistency. All three are keys to the Panthers getting their offense back in gear. More tangibly, the Panthers have to use their running game in order to allow their passing game to be effective – and keep the Cowboys’ pass rush led by perennial All-Pro DeMarcus Ware from disrupting their game plan.

PANTHERS DEFENSIVE GAME PLAN: While the Cowboys’ offensive numbers are rated higher than Carolina in ever major statistical category except rushing yards per game, consistency has been a problem for Dallas as well. But Carolina has problems of its own with top cornerback Chris Gamble (shoulder) out of action and former All-Pro linebacker Jon Beason (knee, shoulder) questionable due to injuries. Keeping Tony Romo’s touchdown-interception in a negative ratio (nine interceptions, 7 touchdowns through five games) will be critical.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: The Panthers rushing defense against the Cowboys rushing offense. Until last week’s 227-yard effort in a 31-29 loss at Baltimore, the Cowboys’ rushing game was a team weakness. The Panthers are coming off their lone contest of the season in which they held their opponent to less than 100 yards rushing….

Panthers QB Cam Newton against the Cowboys defense. The good news for the Panthers is that Dallas has a league-low one interception and the Panthers are 0-10 in games in which Newton has thrown an interception during his 1 1-2-year career. The bad news is that Newton has been sacked 13 times this season and the Cowboys had 10 sacks, led by DeMarcus Ware’s six….

The Panthers’ running game against the Cowboys defense. As good as the Cowboys’ defensive line is, they have yielded 103.6 yards per game. The Panthers beat New Orleans 35-27 in their best rushing effort of the year (219 yards) and feel they should’ve beaten Atlanta (30-28 loss) in their second-best effort (199 yards).

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NOTABLE: While the Panthers have won only once against Dallas in the regular season all-time, it was a significant victory in Panthers’ history. It was Dec. 8, 1997 in old Texas Stadium and it was a 23-13 victory that proved to be Carolina’s first-ever Monday night win….

The Cowboys were tagged “America’s Team” by NFL Films in the 1970s. If attendance at their games matter, they certainly live up to that billing as 361 of their previous 363 games have been sold out, including 163 in a row….

Cowboys QB Tony Romo is a rarity in these days in which there is so much scrutiny and attention paid to watching potential draft picks. Romo was undrafted out of Eastern Illinois in 2003. Currently, Romo ranks 6th all time in yards (22,243) and touchdowns (156) among all undrafted quarterbacks. The top three in each category all-time are Warren Moon, Dave Krieg and Kurt Warner….

Carolina faces the unenviable task of facing the NFL franchises with the top all-time regular season winning percentage in back-to-back weeks. On Sunday, the Panthers host No. 2 Dallas (450-335-6 for 57.3 percent), then next Sunday, the Panthers visit No. 1 Chicago (716-521-42 for 57.9 percent)….

Four Cowboys will be familiar to area football fans, as LB Bruce Carter played at the University of North Carolina, WR Dwayne Harris played at East Carolina, DB Gerald Sensabaugh played at East Tennessee State and North Carolina and LB Kyle Wilber played at Wake Forest.

PREDICTION: Dallas 27, Carolina 24. Romo and the Cowboys have the better of a injury-riddled Panthers defense, though both teams will likely have the opportunity to win in the fourth quarter of what could be a “last possession winner” type of contest.